CHAPTER 95: REJECTING THE JOB OFFER

The last time Beauty received the call notifying her that she’d passed Marson Corporation’s interview, she was feasting on barbecue with Hannah.

Nearly a week had passed, and she had almost forgotten about the whole thing.

"What? Yes... that’s me... Huh?

Really?

Let me think about it..." Hannah watched with wide, excited eyes as Beauty muttered into the phone, her curiosity practically bubbling over.

When mary finally hung up, her lips curled into an irrepressible grin, her joy practically lifting her off the seat.

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Hannah leaned in.

"Beauty,who was that?

You look like you just won the lottery!"

And why wouldn’t she?

Deep down, she had been reluctant about applying to Marson Corporation in the first place, never expecting to actually get the job—let alone an immediate start date. It was like stumbling upon a gold mine.

She was so thrilled she could barely contain herself.

"Oh, it’s nothing much," Beauty said casually.

"Just HR from Hannah Corp.

They want me to start soon." ...

A beat of silence.

Then, Hannah shrieked so loudly that Beauty flinched, casting an embarrassed glance at the curious onlookers around them. She pressed a finger to her lips.

"Hannah, keep it down!

People are staring!"

Realizing her outburst, Hannah quickly snatched a napkin from the table and dabbed at her mouth, trying—and failing—to look composed.

Her round eyes widened as she stared at Beauty.

"Getting into Marson Corporation is a dream opportunity most people can’t even hope for!

To be honest, I actually applied too, but got eliminated in the second round.

I was so devastated—too embarrassed to even tell you about it."

Beauty looked genuinely surprised.

She never expected that someone like Hannah—who’d been immersed in blueprints and design since childhood—would fail the interview.

Meanwhile, here she was, a self-taught amateur who simply loved painting without any formal training, not only getting selected but actually hesitating to accept the offer.

Life really had a twisted sense of humor.

She sighed softly and picked up a piece of grilled meat with her chopsticks.

"Beauty, what’s holding you back?

Don’t tell me you’re thinking of turning it down?"

Hannah knew her friend had always been reluctant about Marson Corporation, mainly because of Lucas—and partly because she lacked confidence, convinced she wasn’t cut out for it.

They’d known each other for years.

Though Beauty appeared bold and unshakable on the surface, Hannah saw right through her—deep down, her best friend was still plagued by self-doubt.

She just hid it well.

That’s why Beauty could be completely herself around Hannah.

"I never planned on joining Marson Corp in the first place.

You know exactly how things are between me and Lucas.

That man controls my life from a distance as it is—if I actually worked under him, I’d be walking straight into the lion’s den."

"But this is such an incredible opportunity!

If you pass it up, you’ll regret it. In this city, barely any companies even come close to Marson Corporation’s caliber.

You’d be crazy to say no."

Hannah would kill for a chance like this—yet here was her best friend, utterly indifferent.

Some people just didn’t know how good they had it!

"Lucas isn’t some monster.

Why are you so scared of him?

Besides, have you seen him?

He’s practically flawless.

If I got to watch a living masterpiece like that stroll around the office every day, I’d be grinning in my sleep!"

Seeing Hannah once again falling into her lovesick daze, that dreamy expression on her face sent shivers down her spine.

She took a sip of milk and cleared her throat deliberately.

Turning to Hannah, she said, "You have no idea how terrifying Lucas is.

If I had to spend every single day with him, I’d lose my mind!"

"You’re sitting on a gold mine and don’t even know it," Hannah shot back, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Ask any girl around here—they’d kill to be in your shoes.

You’re the only one who doesn’t appreciate having such easy access to him."

Pouting, Hannah added, "Getting into Marson Corporation is my lifelong dream.

And here you are, waltzing in without a second thought.

What more could you possibly want?"

"That’s *your* dream, not mine," she retorted.

"My goal is to get as far away from that old man Lucas as possible.

I’m not about to walk straight into the lion’s den!

Besides, I already passed the interview at Jason Enterprises.

Sure, they’re not as big as Marson Corporation, but they’re still one of the top companies in this town.

HR called me yesterday—I start tomorrow!"

Landing a job at Jason Enterprises was reason enough to celebrate, which was why she had treated Hannah to barbecue today.

After all, in this town, the only company that could even be mentioned in the same breath as Marson Corporation was Jason Enterprises.

The other companies didn’t even catch her interest anymore.

Even if she had passed their interviews, she wouldn’t have bothered.

Hannah let out a long, dramatic sigh, as if she wanted to dump a bucket of ice water over her head to knock some sense into her and make her reconsider.

After dinner, the two went shopping for clothes.

Though Lucas usually picked out outfits for her, most of them were formal wear for important events.

Now that she was about to become a working professional, she needed a couple of office-appropriate outfits. She wasn’t a student anymore.

Under Lucas’s influence, the wild, rebellious edges of her personality had long since smoothed over, leaving behind only grace, elegance, and an undeniable charm.

By the time she got home, it was almost eight o’clock.

To her surprise, Lucas’s prized car was parked in the garage—something that almost never happened.

The grand villa hall was spotless, with every servant on high alert, terrified of making the slightest mistake that might cost them their jobs.

"Has Mr. Lucas returned?"

She used to call him Uncle Lucas, but ever since Lucas publicly declared her his girlfriend in front of the Marson family, he forbade her from using that term—afraid it might raise suspicions.

So from then on, she simply referred to him as "Mr. Lucas."

Though it felt awkward at first, she eventually grew accustomed to it.

"Mr. Lucas just arrived home and was asking about you, miss!"

The servants treated her with the utmost respect.

Aside from Laura, everyone in the villa regarded her as the future Mrs. Marson, ensuring her every need—clothing, meals, lodging—was met without the slightest oversight.

Beauty didn’t go to Lucas’s room to find him.

To her, that place was practically hell—once she stepped inside, she knew she wouldn’t be able to leave.

After a relaxing bath, she lounged lazily on the sofa, engrossed in a movie, when suddenly her phone rang.

Glancing at the screen, she was surprised to see the caller ID: the HR manager of Jason Corporation.

Why would they call so late?

Was there something urgent to discuss?

Puzzled, she answered the call.

The same pleasant female voice greeted her, but after the opening words, Beauty nearly leaped off the sofa.

"What?

How could this happen?

Wasn’t it settled that I’d start work tomorrow?

How could a major company like yours pull a last-minute switch like this?"